MU Health Care plans to open a new COVID-19 collection site on Tuesday, January 18. The announcement comes after active cases in Boone County hit a record high of 3,308 on August 13, 2022.
According to a news release, the new location has more space and a larger indoor waiting area and will be located at 404 North Keene Street inside the east entrance of Women’s Hospital.
The location will replace the site currently at West Broadway in Columbia.
Eric Maze, an MU Health Care spokesperson, wrote in an email that the Broadway site averaged 1,052 completed tests – each day – from January 3 -7, which is a substantial rise from November, when it was averaging just 500 completed tests a day.
He added the MU Health Care system processed 1,504 COVID-19 tests on Tuesday, January 11 – with 577 positives results.
“That is a record high for both number of tests processed and positive test results in one day,” Maze wrote. “On four different days over the past two weeks, we have had more positive tests than the previous record of 253 positives set on Nov. 10, 2020.”
The new facility will be open to individuals with mild symptoms, those who have been exposed, and anyone seeking a travel test.
Tests are free and no appointment is required. The site will offer expanded hours for walk-ins: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on weekends.
Masks are required, and they ask that those who are insured bring proof of insurance.
Patients can expect to receive results within 48 hours of testing.
